Israellycool

Natalie Portman says filming a kissing scene beside Jerusalem’s Western Wall for her upcoming movie Free Zone was a mistake.

 

“I really don’t want to offend anyone’s beliefs or impose anything on anyone and it was mistaken to do it”, Portman told Access Hollywood in an interview broadcast Monday.

 

The 23-year-old Israeli-born actress and her crew were confronted by ultra-Orthodox Jewish worshippers last week while filming the scene with Israeli actor Aki Avni. The incident underlined the sensitivity of the site, a remnant of the biblical Jewish temples, the holiest place where Jews can pray.

 

The site is controlled by strictly observant Jews. Male and female worshippers are separated by a barrier perpendicular to the wall, following Orthodox Jewish rules forbidding casual contact between the sexes.

 

“As soon as it offended people, we moved,” Portman said. “We had a very hectic work schedule, so we weren’t thinking. We shouldn’t have done it.”

Former heavyweight boxing champion and convicted rapist Mike Tyson could have a tough battle securing a visa to relaunch his career in Australia, an immigration lawyer said today.

 

Tyson has signed on to train with Jeff Fenech, who says he would like to bring his new charge to Australia.

 

But Nick McNally, from Sydney immigration lawyers Parish Patience, said 38-year-old Tyson could face a difficult bout just getting a visa.

 

“There is a character requirement under legislation that he would, prima facie, fail,” Mr McNally said.

 

Under migration laws, a person seeking an ordinary visa first needed to meet the criteria of being a genuine visitor and be able to support themselves financially.

 

“After that comes the character question,” Mr McNally said.

“Iron” Mike Tyson didn’t have to bite anyone’s ear off to grab attention of music fans in Italy.

 

The self-proclaimed “baddest man in the world,” who once bit a boxing opponent in the ring, is giving Italy’s most famous musical festival a dose of controversy since being invited as a celebrity guest.

 

Tyson will reportedly earn as much as 70,000 euros ($92,460) from state broadcaster RAI to appear at the Sanremo festival on Wednesday, outraging groups, including Amnesty International, which pointed to his rape conviction.

 

“We are talking about a rapist … a personality that, even with all of the precautions, we cannot say what he will do or say in the confines of a big spectacle,” said women’s support network, Telefono Rosa.

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Sanremo organizers thought the appearance of Tyson, a household name even in Italy, would add a bit of spice to the annual Italian music festival which hosts mostly homegrown stars like pop singer Vasco Rossi.

For his part, Tyson, who has millions of dollars of debts, said he had no clue why Italian organizers picked him to appear at a music festival.

 

“I really don’t know. I have no idea why they invited me … Maybe it’s because I’m a music lover,” the former heavyweight champion was quoted as telling Italian newspaper La Stampa, listing his favorite Gangster Rap bands.